2012 Foundation Grant Recipients

The Wisconsin Medical Society Foundation is pleased to note the approval of the following grant awards for 2012 projects.

Aspirus Health Foundation, WausauCommunity Based Care Interventions – Improving Health Outcomes for Persons with Chronic Diseases Who Receive Food at Local Food Pantries
Aspirus, Inc., along with community and academic partners, will develop and implement an innovative intervention at local food pantries to provide appropriate food and dietary education to people with chronic diseases to better manage their conditions and improve health outcomes.Award: $6,000 (Funded in part by the PIC Wisconsin Fund and the Joss Trust)

Memorial Medical Center, Clark CountyStepping On in Clark CountyStepping On is a program that empowers older adults to carry out health behaviors that reduce the risks of falls, improve self management and increase quality of life. It is a community-based workshop offered once a week for seven weeks using adult education and self efficacy principals. Funds would be used to train additional instructors, purchase materials for the course and enable the course to be offered more.Award: $2,500

Near South Side Catholic Schools Association, MilwaukeeHealth Literacy Targeting Grades 7-8, Students with Spanish Speaking Parents
This project will provide 2 classes to 7th and 8th grade students and their parents at 3 schools. Classes will include: summary of prevention, screening, “well child” and the importance of having a medical home. Will also discuss questions about paying for health care, insurance, tracking medications and how to use a health folder that will be provided to participants.Award: $500

Reach Out and Read Wisconsin, StatewideSupport for New Reach Out and Read Programs in Wisconsin
Reach Out and Read Wisconsin prepares America’s youngest children to succeed in school by partnering with doctors to prescribe books and encourage families to read together. Funds would provide start-up funding for five new clinics, which would expand early childhood literacy services to an additional 9,490 children in rural Wisconsin.Award: $2,000

RK Media, LLC, StatewidePublic Service Announcement
Develop a public service announcement for television geared toward children to educate them on the saturated fat content of some of their favorite foods and make those foods less appealing.Award: $8,000

Saturday Clinic For the Uninsured, MilwaukeeStudent-led projects related to access to healthcare and blood glucose monitoring
As part of a pilot program for diabetes management, student managers of SCU will use funds to purchase glucometer test strips for Diabetic patients regularly seen at the clinic who cannot afford test strips and provide bus passes for patients without transportation home from the clinic.Award: $2,856 (Funded in part by the PIC Wisconsin Fund)

TAPIT/new works Ensemble Theater, Statewide and locations beyond WisconsinTake Care, a Play Promoting Medical and Health Education Through the Arts
Take Care, a new play from TAPIT/new works Ensemble Theater, will promote medical and health education through the arts by exploring the major public health issue of caregiving for older adults. Funds will partially support workshops and reduced-fee matinees for healthcare professionals, consumers and family caregivers.Award: $2,100

West Allis Health Department, West AllisPromotora Oral Health Project
This project aims to reduce the incidence of dental caries in Latino children enrolled in the community’s Head Start and WIC programs through an education and primary prevention program utilizing trained Promotoras and a Registered Dental Hygienist. Funds will be used for program development, implementation and supplies.Award: $2,500

Wisconsin Center for Health Equity (WCHE), Ashland and Bayfield CountiesPilot Project: Incorporating Social Determinants of Health Into the CHAMP Team Model
This project forms a partnership between the CHAMP team model and the Wisconsin Center for Health Equity in order to support CHAMP team integration of social determinants of health (SDoH). A focus on SDoH is seen as paramount to achieving health equity and decreasing the health disparity gap.Award: $2,500